Monday, April 14, 2014

So, what's the real story?

It's not Jacques Villeneuve. It's not Juan Montoya—or even Kurt Busch. The real story of this year's 98th running of the Indianapolis 500 is Mr. Sage Karam. Perplexed? Don't be. Sure, JV, JPM, and KuBu will make a bit of a splash within the racing community, but the Verizon IndyCar Series needs new eyes. Enter high school senior, Sage Karam.

That's right. If Karam makes this year's '500' field, he'll compete before he's heard the first note of Pomp and Circumstance. That's a compelling storyline the masses can relate to. And that's why IndyCar and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, et al, should milk it for all it's worth. Pander it to the mainstream press like there's no tomorrow."High School Senior Competes in Biggest Race in the World." There's your headline. Let's roll.—Chris

how we met

A journalist, I’m not, just an enthusiast with a point of view. A grown-up kid who struggled to reconcile his fascination with American open-wheel racing against others’ passion for what played out between the lines of the gridiron and ball diamond.
I first walked through the tunnel at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 1973 at age 7 and was captivated. The next decade was spent pressed against chain link fence, straining for a closer look when, despite no real marketable skills, I plotted my way onto a startup Indycar team as a neophyte gofer (thanks Joe). Three years and two teams later, it was back to school.
Since those heady days, I’m holding down a cozy cubicle right here in river city, clinging to fences again, whenever the opportunity arises.
The blog? Just a quiet corner to share my take with anyone who will listen. A healthy main course of IndyCar with a palate-cleansing dose of the requisite peripherals.
Glad you’re here. If you like what you see, stop back often, and bring a friend.
—Chris